ASU-Heber Springs Welding

Our program began in July 2004 with the construction of our first welding lab, which is now where the high school welding program is located. The first welding shop was designed by Thomas Green with the electrical system designed by Matt Prince, who now teaches our electrical apprentice program on the Heber Springs campus. The first high school students were from Heber Springs, Greers Ferry, and Concord with a total of 39 students, along with another 15 students who took the first 10-hour general welding class. It is interesting to note that first class included Randy Carr, who is one of our current welding instructors.

The news of the ASU-Heber Springs welding program sparked a lot of interest, and with the development of the degree/certificate programs enrollment doubled in a short amount of time. A second floor was added to the welding shop and we were the first welding school in Arkansas to have a two story welding shop!

The ASU-Heber Springs Welding Program continued to grow and by the fall of 2007 we could no longer survive with just one welding shop, so the existing shop became the location for the high school program and a new shop was built for the college program. Our college program can now service up to 118 students enrolled in our day and evening classes while our high school program can service up to 60 students enrolled in day classes.

The first concept of our welding program was to serve the people of Cleburne County and help grow our partnerships with industry. Since the first day of operation in 2004 we have built relationships with students and industry from across the nation. Currently, we have students coming to us from all over Arkansas and surrounding states to participate in our programs. With continued hard work and dedication from everyone involved, ASU Heber Springs Welding will carry into the future the tradition of excellence exhibited since its inception.

Welding Careers

Opportunities in the welding field for both men and women are endless, and can be extremely rewarding. Because welding is widely used in construction, manufacturing, and many other industries, employers have a constant need for skilled welders.

Welding is an important part of our nation’s growth and stability. In fact, there is a strong conviction that a large part of the U.S. economy is dependent on welding and that continued advances in the field help drive our national productivity and strengthen our financial stability.

There are multitudes of career options in the welding industry. Whether you enjoy working with your hands, traveling the world, inspecting and analyzing things, working with numbers, communicating or inspiring others, there is a career opportunity available in the welding industry.

Why choose ASU-Heber Springs Welding?

Thomas “Tag” Green has built a program of excellence around the core values of hard work, character and respect. Students are taught and mentored by Green and the team of instructors he has assembled. Everyone in the welding department is committed to transforming lives for the better - by teaching real world skills that will equip students to set and reach high goals. Many of our students have graduated the program to pursue a higher degree, such as Bachelor of Applied Science in Technology, or Welding Engineering. Graduates can expect to earn salaries from $22,600.00 to $126,300.00.

Our claim to fame is directly tied to the numerous awards we’ve achieved. However, the definition of awards must include successful student certification and graduation, as well as the significant number of medals, certificates, honors and awards received through competition and academic recognition. Students and instructors from the Heber Springs Welding program have a record of excellence that we consider WORLD CLASS.

SkillsUSA World Skills Weld-Off

World Skills Semi-Finals 4th Place finish in 2011 at FabTech in Atlanta, Georgia

ASU-Heber Springs welding students from 2004 to present have participated many times in our SkillsUSA chapter, which allowed students to compete in Arkansas SkillsUSA competitions. At the state level, ASU-Heber Springs students have won 5 Gold medals, 3 Silver medals, and 2 bronze medals in welding; 3 Gold medals, and 2 Silver medals in oxy-fuel cutting; and 3 Gold medals in metal fabrication.

Our students have also done well at the National SkillsUSA competitions. We started in the Top 20, moved up to the Top 10, and finally made it to Silver – a 2nd place position. Winning 2nd at this competition did change our lives, and the life of our program forever. Because of this, we were invited to participate in World Skills, which is by invitation only. Over the next two years, we trained and competed in several qualification rounds, trying to be the one student/school to represent the United States (competing against 52 other countries) to be the best welder in the world. We ultimately placed 4th in the semi-finals with only the top three places advancing to the final round. We had the opportunity of a lifetime - to become friends, train, and compete with the best welders in the world.

Recognizing opportunities, and following through with heart and dedication have led the ASU-Heber Springs Welding Technology program of excellence. It shows in the success of our students through academic honors, citizenship awards, and superior skills demonstration.